Category Archives: Thoughts

Little things.

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“Its the little things that matter, that add up in the end, with the priceless thrilling magic found only in a friend.”
–Elizabeth Dunphy
Little things.  Can be big things. 
A handwritten note.  An unexpected phone call.  Coffee with a friend.
I find that it is often the minutest of details that seem to matter most. 
Recently I helped to plan a local fall women’s event and we chose to hold it at a restaurant.  The place was nice enough, but a few little things here and there truly made the day special for the ladies in attendance.
Bright, colorful oak leaves (from the craft store), acorns (gathered by my girlies from the yard) and these adorable little acorn treats strewn about the tables was the perfect touch.  Simple.  Perfect.
I saw a picture of these  treats floating around facebook and immediately took mental note of it.  I could not find it again no matter how hard I tried.  I do not know who to credit for this nifty idea, but will gladly do so if and when I become aware of it.  These were so easy and the women raved about them for days!  My little girls were crazy about them, too.  Great fall activity for the kids!
Edible Acorn Treats
Hershey’s kisses
Mini Nutter Butters (or Ritz Bitz crackers)
Mini chocolate Chips
1.  Unwrap the Hershey’s kisses and separate the Nutter Butters so you are all set to go.
2.  Melt down some of the mini chocolate chips.  I prefer the stove top, but this could easily be done in the microwave, too.  (Be careful not to burn the chocolate!)
3.  Dip the large end of the Hershey’s kiss into the melted chocolate.  Place Nutter Butter on top of the melted chocolate.  Dip mini chocolate chip into chocolate and attach to the top.  
Voila!  Edible acorns!
(Note:  For those with peanut allergies, use a Ritz Bitz cracker in place of the Nutter Butter.)
“If you’re honest in small things, you’ll be honest in big things…”
Luke 16.10a (MSG)




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Creature Comforts.

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“Knitting, he thought, was a comfort to the soul. It was regular. It was repetitious. And, in the end, it amounted to something”

–Father Tim from At Home in Mitford by Jan Karon

There is a certain comfort to be found in the familiar.  A steamy morning coffee.  An old song laden with memories.  A dependable friend.  

And today is a noteworthy day in my little world.  Eleven years ago, I began the most remarkable of journeys with “my dependable friend.”  

It’s our date-aversary.  

Perhaps we are among only a handful of couples that celebrate the anniversary of our first date, but it’s a pretty big day in my mind.  Without it, there certainly would have been no wedding and no children.  We spent the day at an apple orchard in Minnesota and then he took me to Applebee’s.  (We love apples… and by association, Applebee’s.)

I don’t write about my stellar husband very often and I think he prefers it that way.  

Because of the nature of his line of work, we frequently moved around the country early on in our marriage (four states… one of them twice).  We soon learned that no matter what happens, what relationships are formed, what connections are made, the only thing we took with us when we moved was each other.  We made a decision to more intentionally invest in our relationship and our marriage, because in the end, it would amount to something.

This road has not been perfect.  It has not been easy.  But I would gladly do it all over again.  

(We know a married couple that claims they never have an argument, but instead engage in “intense fellowship.”  Beautifully stated.  I must admit there has been a little “intense fellowship” along the way, but I suppose that is how we keep things interesting.)

I choose to love this man.  Every day.  Even when I don’t feel like it. (Even after he has forgotten to rinse out his cereal bowl.  Again.)  And I am grateful he chooses to love me back.  (Even after I forgot to iron his Sunday shirt.  Again.) 

It’s a beautiful partnership.  I respect his work, his provision, and his leadership.  And he loves me.  No matter what. 

And then there’s the coffee.  Our mutual love for this celestial brew is unmatched.  You are a treasure, my dependable friend.

HAPPY DATE-AVERSARY! 
I love you madly.

 
“Hang my locket around your neck,

   wear my ring on your finger.
Love is invincible facing danger and death.
   Passion laughs at the terrors of hell.
The fire of love stops at nothing—
   it sweeps everything before it.
Flood waters can’t drown love,
   torrents of rain can’t put it out.
Love can’t be bought, love can’t be sold—
   it’s not to be found in the marketplace.”

Song of Solomon 8.6-7 (MSG)

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Season of change.

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It is nearly the middle of October, yet the cool, fall temperatures remain elusive here in the Heartland.  At this point, I desire little more than to be drowning in a warm, oversized sweater with a hot cup of coffee in one hand and a cozy book in the other.

“Autumn, you are late to your own party.  The trees are already colored for you…”

I adore the season of change.  I love the winding down of the year.  I welcome the vibrant colors.  Now, if it could just be colder…

This time of year also awakens in me a sense of renewal, inviting me to purge my house, my closet… my life!  Almost like spring cleaning.  But not.  Knowing full well that I will likely be spending a lot more time in my house with winter coming on, it seems a good time to get things in order.

So I’ve started by changing batteries.  LOTS of batteries.  Funny how you can give a something new life just by changing the batteries.  (Yes, even for Dead-Batty-Dora!)  After lying unnoticed in a dark corner for months, suddenly, Baby Alive is beloved again.  A flashlight stands ready to serve.  An old clock is again useful. 

Generally, I use rechargable batteries.  Especially AAs, because those seem to be most popular these days.  Often times, though, we still have the other kind laying around and I have decided to get the most out of every single one. 

A “dead” battery may not have enough juice to power a camera or get Elmo to giggling, but its probably not truly dead.  I toss spent batteries into an old shoe box marked “Clock Batteries.”  Clocks require very little power to run and will run for a long time on a supposedly dead battery I have pulled out of an old toy.  Batteries cost good money so make ’em count ’til the last drop!

So while I anticipate the true arrival of fall, I pour another cup, fall wardrobe at the ready, and I smile…

Do I like my coffee black? There are other colors? 
This post is a part of the Frugal Tuesday Tip.

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Withdrawal.

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I did not know it was a problem.  I did not know it was quite this intense.  I did not know what it had become. 

I.  Did.  Not.  Know.  Until…

The seething pain began pounding into my brain, much like someone hammering a nail right between the eyes.  For twenty-four hours.  Relentless.

It’s official, everyone… I’m addicted to caffeine.  Without coffee, apparently I am useless (and according to my husband, a trifle grumpy, too.)

Perhaps it shouldn’t be so surprising (this is a coffee-themed blog, after all), however, I was still caught off-guard.

Yesterday, we were running late for a field trip to the Pumpkin Patch.  I skipped the coffee simply because there was no time, and thought nothing of it.  Fast forward two hours, as I am riding a jaunty little choo choo train around the pumpkin patch, my brain in protest from lack of caffeine, and I just wanted to find a dark corner and curl up in the fetal position until the pestilence had passed. 

No such luck.

By the time we arrived home, it was much too late to drink coffee (I do like to sleep eventually) and I was still trying to convince myself that my ailment was the result of dehydration.

A handful of dark chocolate took the edge off as I prepared for bed, but I awoke again this morning with a Goliath headache.

Two Tylenol and one cup of joe later… all is well.

Perhaps it’s time to cut back?  Probably.  But, no thanks. 

Decaffeinated coffee is the devil’s blend. 

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Reboot.

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Thankful to be alive.  Thankful for a fresh day.  Thankful for the warm coffee cup in my hand.  Thankful that my past does not dictate my future.

Yesterday was… less than ideal.  I spent a full day in the city with meetings, dentist appointments, and a GPS (whom we have affectionately named, Susan) that sent me through an old, abandoned parking lot named “36th Street” en route to the aforementioned dentist appointments (which we were already late for) and tried to convince me the dentist office was located in a residential area.  Most of the time “Susan” is helpful.  And most of the time she is my friend.  Yesterday, however, I would rather have tossed her out the window, never looking back.

By the time we arrived back home, my little darlings were of sour disposition and mama was just plain tired.  We were barely home for 10 minutes before the toilet was clogged and my toddler had dumped an entire glass of water down the heat register.   Oh boy.

But this pretty much made my day:  “Draw a Stick Man”

Now it’s nap time.  And coffee break.  And I have chocolate.  Things are already looking up.

Behind every successful woman is a substantial amount of coffee. ~Stephanie Piro

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While they were sleeping…

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After my beloved coffee machine is empty.  After my most cherished mug is freshly washed and resting in the cupboard.  After the lights are turned low and the house is finally hushed. 


The stillness of this October evening is welcome as I try to unwind from another bustling day.  But I just can’t keep myself from sneaking back in to peek at my little angels nestled warmly in their beds. 


One with a fever (so sorry you caught mommy’s cold, but its ever-so-hard to not kiss your sweet little face), one with an injury (wish I could have been there to rescue your little finger from that heavy door), and one just oh-so-snuggly cute (can hardly tear myself away from you). 


My little peanut, how is it that you are seven already?  Wasn’t it just yesterday that you asked me to read to you about “Christmas-ter” Robin and his little Pooh bear?  And didn’t we just dance the night away to “John Jacob Jingleheimerschmidt” about a thousand times?


My sweet ladybug, how can it be that you are in kindergarten this year?  Are you sure you have outgrown your trademark red glitter shoes?


My loveable bear, is it true that you can now mostly button your own sweater?  And say your ABCs?  And count to ten? 

Can. It. Be?

I love you forever and always.

“When a woman gives birth, she has a hard time, there’s no getting around it. But when the baby is born, there is joy in the birth. This new life in the world wipes out memory of the pain.”

John 16.21 (The Message)

This blog has been nominated for the Best Mom Blog Awards at Parents.com! Be sure to vote by clicking on the button below or by using the button on the top right side of this page! And tell your friends!




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Little Miss Clean.

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God made rainy days so gardeners could get the housework done. 

And well, I am not exactly a gardener (you can read more about that whole shenanigan here:  Greenthumbery.), but I do enjoy a good foul-weather day that forces me to actually get a few things done around the house.  I am sure this is God’s way of keeping in line.

I fancy a clean house just as much as the next person, but it’s definitely more of a challenge these days.  I once heard someone say that cleaning your house before the children are done growing is like shoveling before it’s done snowing.  Couldn’t possibly be more true.

However, it must be done (and frequently requires copious amounts of coffee). 

I quickly learned that my third child is much different from her older sisters.  She is cunning, precocious, and really, really fast.  (I imagine she is exactly like my husband was at the tender age of two and if you know my husband, you know exactly what I mean.)  She is continually bubbling over with incessant vitality and spirit (also the reason I am consuming greater quantities of coffee these days.)  She readily scales walls, cupboards, fences, and furniture.  I removed the ladder from my older girls’ bunk beds to help curb her desire to climb.  Now she just climbs into the top bunk by scaling up the side.  (Is she part monkey???)  I am convinced that nothing could ever be completely my kind of toddler-proof.

She loves to eat my all-natural deodorant and once sucked the ink out of Sharpie marker.  Trust me, I have poison control on my speed dial.  Most importantly… I. Love.  Her.

I was making an effort to “green clean” before, but it’s certainly become more of a priority in our home since this sweet baby arrived.  (You can read more tips here:  Super Secrets.)

Natural cleaning products are in abundance these days, but they are so darn pricey.  I have everything I need right in my kitchen.  I can clean my whole house with just vinegar, baking soda, salt and lemon juice.

Here are a few of my favorite natural cleaning recipes:

Drain Declogger

Pour 1 c. of baking soda down the drain, followed by 1 c. of hot vinegar.  Place a cloth over the top of the drain and let it sit for 15 minutes.  Flush with hot water.  Works like a charm!

Air freshener

Place baking soda with lemon juice in a small dish to absorb odors around the house.

Fabric Softener

Use 1/4 c. white vinegar in place of liquid fabric softener.  Softens and freshens clothes and removes odors. 

Sticker Remover

Sponge full-strength white vinegar over stickers several times and wait 15 minutes.  Then rub off.  Also works well for sticky residue left behind by labels or price tags!

Window & Mirror Cleaner

Mix 2 tsp. of white vinegar with 1 quart of warm water.  Use crumpled newspaper (black and white only, not color) or a cotton cloth to clean.  (Don’t clean windows when the sun is on them or if they are warm or streaks will show.  Be sure to follow recipe.  Using too much vinegar will eventually cloud windows.)

NOTE:  You can recycle old baking soda used for deodorizing the refrigerator and freezer by using it to clean around the house!

Happy cleaning!!!
NOTE:  If you haven’t already noticed this blog has just been nominated for Best All-Around Mom Blog at Parents.com!!!  Please, go cast your vote by clicking on the button below (or at the top right-hand side of the page)!  Voting is open until October 15!

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Makes me go hmmmm.

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There are definitely a few things (give or take) in life that I do not understand.  One thing, in particular, has me utterly perplexed.

Glow-in-the-dark flossers. 

You know, those little plastic contraptions that are pre-strung with floss to make flossing your teeth easier and more convenient.  You know, because it is already so difficult to cut the waxy string on your own.  You know, because you might pull a muscle. 

And now… they glow in the dark?

Seriously?  Who flosses their teeth… in the dark?  I fully understand these are marketed to children, but again I pose the question… in the dark? 

Pouring another cup so I can contemplate this further…

And just for good measure, because I find this entirely all too familiar…

Test Drive.

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Chilly September morning.  Warm coffee cup in my hand.  And test-driving a new brew.  Maple Walnut from Cameron’s.  Woodsy, nutty, rich and syrupy… just like I have always imagined a backwoods Vermont maple sugar house to be.  Enchantingly divine.  The only thing that could possibly make this moment better would be this cozy Handwarmer mug.  (This is soooo on my Christmas list!)

And speaking of test-drive… have you seen this?  A jet-powered school bus that reaches a speed of 367 mph?  I can completely relate.  Give me my morning coffee and I can conquer the world!  (Only maybe at slightly less than 367 mph.)

Hand over the coffee and nobody gets hurt.

Recharge.

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My daughter has one of those nifty play kitchens in her room.  Honestly, it’s been some of the best money we have ever been spent because this kitchen is one of those things that has actually been played with like crazy and it’s now been handed down to kid #3. 

And when seen through the eyes of a child, it has become much more than a kitchen.  My girls have showed me that if you remove the sink, it can be used as a washing machine, stuffing the laundry down inside what should be the refrigerator.  If you pull it out from the wall and someone stands behind it, the kitchen is transformed to a drive-up bank window.  The stove also doubles as a school desk.  Who knew???

Did I yet mention it is a “Dora the Explorer” talking kitchen?  Not my first choice, but we got an amazing deal on it at the time.  There’s nothing necessarily wrong with Dora except for the fact that she YELLS ALL THE TIME!!!  (Just like that.)  Clearly, someone has not properly taught that child how to use her “inside voice.”

And the batteries are dying.  So Dora has been behaving especially erratically.  And I never think about changing her batteries until around 2:30 am, because that’s when Dora delivers an impromptu cooking lesson… “LET’S MAKE BANAAAAANA NUT CAAAAAKE!  YOU NEED BUUUUUTTTEEEEER!  MAAAANTEQUIIIIILLLLA!… and so on and so forth.  I have it memorized by now and quite frankly, I don’t think her recipe would make a very good banana nut cake. 

However, dead-battery Dora has taught me a thing or two.  Sometimes, I just need to take some time to recharge my batteries.  When my juice is low, my behavior can be just as erratic and off-the-wall. 

Recipe for Recharge.

1.  Grab a cup of coffee. 

2.  Go here:  The Prayer Garden.  (Take some time and click on everything.  Every page holds hidden treasures… and make sure your sound is turned up.  You won’t want to leave…)

(For future reference, The Prayer Garden link can also be found on the left-hand side of this page under “Happy Places.”)

“God doesn’t come and go. God lasts.
He’s Creator of all you can see or imagine.
He doesn’t get tired out, doesn’t pause to catch his breath.
And he knows everything, inside and out.
He energizes those who get tired,
gives fresh strength to dropouts.
For even young people tire and drop out,
young folk in their prime stumble and fall.
But those who wait upon God get fresh strength.
They spread their wings and soar like eagles,
They run and don’t get tired, 
they walk and don’t lag behind.“

Isaiah 40.29-31 (The Message)

This post is a part of Simple Lives Thursday.

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